HSBC shares fall as much as 5% as profit disappoints

Shares in HSBC fell as much as 5 percent on Monday as pretax profit disappointed for full-year 2013, coming in at $22.6 billion.

While profits before tax rose by 9 percent, from $20.6 billion in 2012, the figure missed the $24.3 billion expected by analysts polled by Reuters, sending shares sharply lower. By 10 a.m. London time shares were down 3.6 percent.

The bank increased its bonus pool for staff to $3.9 billion in 2013, up 6 percent from the previous year. It paid 239 members of staff $1.7 million or more.

Chief executive Stuart Gulliver was paid $8 million in salary and bonuses last year, up from $7.5 million in 2012.

The bank also became the first to announce it would seek the necessary shareholder approval to lift the new EU bonus cap from 100 percent of its top executives' salary to 200 percent.

Underlying revenue at HSBC rose to $63.3 billion in 2013, compared with $61.6 billion in 2012, while operating expenses dropped by $4.3 billion last year, below the $5 billion fall expected by analysts. The bank also upped its dividend to $0.49 from $0.45 per share.

As it announced its results, Europe's largest bank warned there could be "choppy markets" this year as emerging markets adjust to changing economic conditions.

"Today the group is leaner and simpler than in 2011 with strong potential for growth," CEO Stuart Gulliver said in a statement.

"Our strong capital generation continues to support our progressive dividend policy and reinforces HSBC's status as one of the best capitalized banks in the world," he said.

HSBC is not the global bank they were: Pro

Chris Skinner, CEO of Balatro, says HSBC has been selling off business in risky countries and is no longer the global bank it once was.

"I think the market is concerned about the top line growth, I think HSBC management is correct in pointing out choppy waters are ahead. Just about 50 percent of their revenue comes from emerging markets," said Filippo Alloatti, senior research analyst at Hermes Fund Managers.

The results follow a cost-cutting drive by HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver, who has axed 40,000 jobs, sold or closed 60 businesses and dramatically cut costs since taking over three years ago.

"While profits are up in most regions, the cost program is ahead of target, impairments are falling and the management tone is relatively positive, we would expect the miss against consensus to see a negative reaction today," said Martyn King, Analyst at Edison Investment Research.